12 • ACRE. 
CHAP, the undisturbed possession of a very exten- 
^ ._ ■ sive territory to his successor, Ismael Pasha. 
the Maronites, is continually at war with Djezzar, and he refuseJ the 
contributions annually levied in the Mountains. Djezzar retains two 
nephews of the Emir in his Seraglio, as hostages, in case any act of 
hostility should be shown by the Prince of the Mountains. When 
the French were before Acre, they attempted to bring over the 
Druzes and Maronites to their alliance. Sir Sidtiey Smith, gaining 
intelligence of this, very prudently despatched emissaries to coun- 
teract the French intrigue in the Mountains ; and made ample pro- 
mises of his friendship and piotectiou to the Druzes. This people 
bad always been the declared enemies of Djezzar ; and the short- 
sighted policy of the tyrant made him most inveterate against Sir 
Sidney and the English, on account of their correspondence in the 
Mountains. 
" * I can {added Djezzar) let the English know, that I ara as 
' powerful in my enmities, as I am faithful and sincere in my friend- 
* ships. Am I to be dictated to ? I, who have held the sword over the 
' heads of the Beys, shall I lower it, and be humbled by the English? 
' No! {exclaimed he,) I can withstand them all. I will have no com- 
' munication with the English. I will have no Consul of that nation; 
' not one of their ships shall come into my harbour ; they shall not 
approach within gun-shot of my fortifications.' Mr. Hamilton still 
attempted to explain : and at last, Djezzar went so far as to say, that 
it was not with Sir Sidney Smith that he was oflfended ; that it was 
with a Mr. JVright, Lieutenant of the Tigre, and the Vice-Consul of 
Tripoli, a Frenchman, whom he considered the cause of the breach 
between him {Djezzar) and Sir Sidney. ' Mr. Wright {continued he) 
' and the other had been to visit the Chiefs of the Druzes ; had made 
' arrangements with them, and had even returned with some of the 
Princes to Acre; and Sir Sidney ought certainly to have prevented 
this communication : however {said he) I am not offended with him.* 
In short, in his extreme anger, he frequently contradicted himself. 
Leake and myself smiled upon some observations between ourselves. 
Djezzar became furious. ' I, who have been a Pasha of three tails 
'these five years; I, (said he) who have defeated twelve thousand 
' Druzes with twenty horsemen, am I to be insulted in this manner ? 
' — I am speaking seriously. Am I to be laughed at and derided ? — 
'I am 
